THE WAR has highlighted what many people
have always known about the nature of the powers that be. Hypocrisy, greed,
injustice and force are the values they hold for the benefit of the few, at the
expense of the many. The media however would have us believe otherwise. Here
we provide a between the lines interpretation of recent media spin.

“The bombing of Afghanistan is an act of
justice”

Bush and Blair are saying their actions
are justified. But hang on, they viewed the bombing of the world trade center
as an atrocity. Hypocrites. Killing of innocent people is an atrocity no matter
who does it and for whatever reason.

“September 11th was an

attack on Western civilisation”

What’s so civilised about the US with
its high prison population, over consumption of world resources, extremes of
wealth and poverty? The whole of western ‘civilisation’ was built by brutality
and conquest. The capitalist system is based on greed and self-interest. So
where’s the civilisation?

Of course the Taliban, like any
government, are merely a bunch of ruthless gangsters. Bin Laden and Bush are
the enemies of all true civilisation.

“War on the Taliban is a defence of

democracy”

Democracy? Since when do politicians
ever do what they promise they’re going to do in an election? In any case, a
minority of the population voted for both Blair and Bush, so they can’t even
claim to be democratically elected. Most of the war coalition is made up of
dictatorships, like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The so-called democracies are
always willing to support whatever oppressive regime when it suits their
interests. It was the US’s obsession with fighting state communism that led
them to support Muslim fanatics like Osama bin Laden against the Russians in Afghanistan
in the first place. All this talk about defending democracy is just a
smokescreen.

“Now is the time for the nation to pull
together”

The way people responded in the
aftermath of the attack - the bravery of the rescue workers and the solidarity
shown by New York residents - was a natural example of mutual aid. Bush is
calling on everyone to pull together and to make sacrifices, but company bosses
don’t seem to think this applies to them. Airlines rushed to sack workers,
causing untold hardship for thousands of families. Obviously profits can never
be sacrificed. Nationalism is a con trick used by the rich to keep workers
compliant. We call for class solidarity and not national unity.

“We must defeat the terrorists at all
cost”

How come the state has so much money to
wage a war? We’re constantly being told that there’s not enough money to do
anything about the NHS, the transport system, or the environment. There’s
certainly never enough to give anyone, except the corporate bosses and politicians,
a pay rise. But now they seem to have unlimited supplies of money. Where did it
all come from?

“This is a war against terrorism and for
freedom”

Utter rubbish. This is a war to advance
Western political and economic interests - particularly the oil barons that
funded Bush. The US for a start can’t stand the idea that there are governments
out there that won’t behave, as they want them to. They also love to flex their
military muscle now and again to show people who’s in charge. And how can
bombing as a strategy possibly defeat

terrorism? Would bombing Northern

Ireland stop terrorism there? Who,
anyway, decides what is terrorist and what isn’t? How is what happened in New
York worse than the bombing Kabul?

As anarchists we treat all news and
views pumped through the corporate media machine with the utmost suspicion.
Politicians and journalists are not exactly the most trustworthy of people.

Question everything!

Think for yourself!

---

TIME BOMB

Continuing out regular look at history:

Women start the Russian Revolution

In Petrograd in Russia in 1917, in the
midst of world war, women textile workers decided to celebrate International
Women’s Day on February 23rd.

One local Bolshevik factory organiser
told the women to refrain from strike

action. Despite this, meetings took
place the next day, and a mass of women marched to the Municipal Duma, the

puppet parliament set up by the Tsar’s

regime, to demand bread. The soldatki,
the wives, daughters and mothers of soldiers, left the massive bread lines and
raised

banners demanding bread and saying “Our
children are starving”.

Joined by housewives and women textile
workers of the Vyborg district, they swarmed over the bridges on the River Neva
towards the centre of town. The women of the trolley terminus on Vasilev Island
joined them, as they visited the nearby infantry barracks to get the pledge of
the soldiers that they would not fire if they came out on strike. 90,000
workers, both women and men, started to come out on strike, as the women
textile workers went to the large metal factories calling on the men to join
them.

The following day, numbers in the street
had risen to 197,000. Women went up to the officers, taking hold of their
rifles and demanding: ”Put down your bayonets and join us”. By February 26th
women were going up to the soldiers’ ranks in masses and taking their guns. The
Russian Revolution was unfolding, and the Bolsheviks and all the other
socialist parties were taken completely by surprise.

In spite of centuries of
deeply-ingrained submissiveness and fatalism, working women got off their knees
and were to start one of the most important events in human history. After
World War had come Revolution.

For more on the history of the Russian
revolution read “The Russian Tragedy” by Alexander Berkman. Available from AK
distribution, PO Box 12766, Edinburgh, EH8 9YE or www.akuk.com for £4.50 plus
60p postage and packing.

---

CELEBRITY PRAT OF THE MONTH

Here at resistance we refuse to be
intimidated by the threat of

terrorists and state terrorists. So it’s
back to normal with our regular

column on famous arseholes.

As the disparities of money obtainable
under capitalism come ever more to depend on ‘status’, they move far beyond
the bounds of basic common decency when it comes to celebrity, profit and
property. Television presenter, John Fashanu, lured a homeless man off a London
street with a bribe of £300 to stand for two nights in a huge queue so that he
(Fashanu) could bid a million pounds on a two-bedroomed flat.

Obviously the irony escaped the dumb, or
perhaps he’s just insanely insensitive, Fashanu: here’s a fellow human being
without a roof over his head and no prospect of regular shelter or even a hot
meal, and Fashanu sees fit to splash a seven figure sum on a property he
doesn’t need and will likely spend very little time in. What sort of a society
is it that, not only permits, but positively encourages such offensive
inconsistencies to take place in its name? Not only that, as if Fashanu’s
self-delusions of superiority had barely surfaced, he goes on to humiliate the
itinerant street-dweller by gloating: “I put down polythene for the man to sit
on in my Mercades. I told him to sit in line and not to move whatever he did.”
Frankly, we’re only surprised the crassly arrogant Fashanu didn’t insist the
poor bloke travel inside the boot of his fancy, but ultimately useless (on
London’s streets anyway), limo!

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NO WAR BUT THE CLASS WAR

ON THE day the bombing of Afghanistan
started protesters took to the streets. 50 people gathered at Trafalgar Square
while 100 held a peace vigil opposite Downing Street. A group went through
Trafalgar Square to Whitehall, then to Parliament Square chanting “No War but
the Class War”. The constantly moving demo kept police confused until
dispersing into nearby side streets.

On October 11th, about 20 people

invaded and occupied the armed forces

recruitment office on Queens Road in
Brighton. Despite uniformed squaddies on the door, the protesters managed to
barge their way in, shutting down the office for 1 - 2 hours during its main
busy period over lunchtime. The group No War But The Class War distributed
leaflets to passers-by and hung a banner saying “Sabotage the War Effort” while
police closed off the whole road, redirected traffic and called out the fire
brigade. The action was

reported on local radio, right after
news of more casualties in Afghanistan. No War

But The Class War meetings happen in
Brighton at 7.30pm every Monday, upstairs at the Hobgoblin pub on London Road.

Email: nowar@another.com

The intensification of the attack on
Afghanistan provoked a huge demonstration in London. We estimate that 50,000
people turned out. Given the intensity of the pro-war propaganda put out by the
establishment the size of the demonstration is very positive. The massive gap
between what the ruling elite want us to believe and peoples ability to develop
their own views and judge situations amongst themselves was there for all to
see.

The demonstration was made up of people
from all walks of life, united in their opposition to the war.

We see large demonstrations like these
as an important part of a developing anti-war movement. The feeling of
solidarity and unity that we take away with us is not to be underestimated –
nor is the opportunity to exchange ideas and news with others. However, any
struggle against the war should not be confined just to demonstrations.

As a first step, we’d like to see people
getting together with friends and work mates in their own towns and cities,
forming anti-war groups that spread the message of opposition. Lets bypass the
corporate media lie machine and get our views out to people direct. And when
doing so lets work together as equals and not get taken in by the left-wing
organisations who just want to recruit new members.

As always, in future demonstrations
anarchists will be walking together. Look out for the black flags and join us
on our journey to a free and peaceful society.

A public meeting of London No War But
The Class War has been called on 21st October at 2pm Conway Hall, Red Lion
Square, WC1.

Glasgow saw a 2000 strong anti-war
demonstration on the same day as the

London mobilisation.

---

INTERNATIONAL ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT

Hundreds of anti-war demonstrations have
taken place around the world. Here are reports from some sent to
www.ainfos.ca/en

Bulgaria

FIFTEEN anarchists protested in front
of the American embassy against the new war. Two of the placards were “US
GOVERNMENT - TERRORIST #1" and “BIN LADEN OR BUSH, WHERE IS THE
DIFFERENCE”.

Canada

Over 250 people turned up at the US
consulate in Toronto with only a few hours’ notice to protest against the
American/British attacks against several cities in

Afghanistan.

Quebec

Up to 500 people demonstrated against
war and racism in Quebec City. The call was made by an ad-hoc coalition of
student unions, international solidarity groups and anarchists and socialists.

To read the leaflet the North Eastern
Federation of Anarcho-Communists

distributed at the march, go to

http://www.ainfos.ca/en/ainfos07577.html

Ireland

AROUND 1,000 people marched through the
centre of Dublin as part of an anti- war protest. A stall was set up by a
member of the recently launched Anarchist Federation (Ireland), contact them by
Email: ireaf@yahoo.ie or Tel: 07951 0797 19.

Kazakhstan

On October 3rd in Aksai, West
Kazakhstan, a small town in the immediate vicinity of the huge Karachaganak oil
and gas condensate field, leaflets were glued and bubblegummed by anonymous
workers group members in the Western oilmen ghetto. It’s a highly restricted
residential area for managers and specialists with special pass system (various
time limits) and strong security infrastructure. It’s

especially guarded against locals (if
they’re not young girls).

The Leaflets had the following text:
"Fight your real enemies: COPS-BOSSES-POLITICIANS. NO WAR, BUT CLASS WAR!”

Holland

An estimated 7000 people came together
in Amsterdam to protest against the new war. It was an incredibly fast
mobilisation, with the organising “Platform against the New War” formed just
two weeks ago, and the largest demonstration in Amsterdam since the EU summit
in 1997. Very inspiring. The platform denounced all military action.

Philippines

As part of the Anti-Capitalist
Convergence (ACC) Philippines call for direct action against the war promoted
by the US government, Food not Bombs and the rest of ACC conducted a Food not
Bombs vegetarian community dinner on September 29, in Manila, Philippines, a
sanctuary of the country’s homeless and hungry people.

USA

ON September 28th students and community
members held a “Solidarity Sit-In for Peace” in the MLK commons at Northern
Illinois University. In solidarity with those rallying in DC this weekend,
they denounced Bush’s “War On Terrorism” and called for peace. Around 40
people showed up to this rally.

USA 2

WASHINGTON - A few thousand anti-war
demonstrators marched through the nation’s capital.

The protests were mainly peaceful, but
police in riot gear used pepper spray on demonstrators at least once during a
morning march led by an anarchist group. Police arrested some protesters at the
skirmish. In another incident, Terrance Gainer, the District of Columbia
assistant police chief, was sprayed in the face with something that brought him
to his knees. Two officers helped him behind police barricades and he later
returned to work.

Poland

An anti-war demo was organised by the
Polish Anarchist Federation in Poznan at the American consulate. About 80
people came. There were some speeches in which it was explained that war
against Afghanistan would follow the same logic which the attackers against WTC
were following in their opposition to US. Slogans like “Politicians to the
trenches” were yelled. A demo was also organised in Katowice.

France

A navy recruitment centre in the South
Western town of Pau came under petrol bomb attack from the Totally Anti-War
Group, who declare themselves against war, capitalism and imperialism.

---

ON THE FRONTLINE

Malawi Health Workers Strike

Medical staff at Malawi’s main hospital,
The Queen Elizabeth, went on strike demanding salary increases and allowances
on 5th October. Many units, including the children’s and maternity wards, were
shut. Only the intensive care unit and operating theatres remained open. A
senior health official said the strike was illegal because no proper notice was
given. It is the latest in a series of strikes among public service workers in
Malawi.

Merseyside Fire-fighters’ Wildcat

An unofficial strike brought the

Merseyside fire service to its knees on
10th September. Staff at all 26 stations walked out in protest at the
suspension of a

colleague. A spokesman for Merseyside
Fire Service described the situation as anarchy. Fire fighters went back to
work at as

management prepared to take High Court
action to force crews back.

Pilots wildcat strike

On 7th September a Sabena pilots strike
disrupted the movement of 20,000 passengers. The pilot’s two-day strike was
against restructuring plans which threaten 200 cockpit jobs. The wildcat forced
Sabena to cancel all morning flights scheduled out of Brussels. Sabena
President Christoph Muller whinged that. “Contradictory to their statements
saying that they would not hijack customers, today thousands of customers have
been taken by surprise by this wild strike.”

Air-traffic controllers on hunger strike

On 10th October air-traffic controllers
in Omsk, Siberia, began a hunger strike in protest at a proposed new Labour
Code, as well as the refusal of the administration to raise salaries despite
increased profits. The hunger-strike, initially planned for two days, is part
of a general campaign of action with pickets and stoppages in many workplaces.

Support the Siberian air traffic
controllers

Fax: 00 7 (3812)164 115

Email: postmaster@zsa.omsk.su

General strike called in Italy

A general strike against the war has
been called by the teaching section of unicobas, the militant Italian union.
October 19th will see thousands giving work a miss and attending a national
demonstration in Rome, the last of which attracted 50,000 people.

---

Spread the anti-war message!

We’ve produced thousands of anti-war
stickers. Send a donation to London Anarchist Federation for a bundle

---

INSIDE INFORMATION

Anarchist needs support

ANARCHIST prisoner Chris Plummer will be
release on parole in January 2002, after serving eight years for an anti-

fascist action, four of them in solitary.
He has sustained serious injuries whilst inside at the hands of the state and
fascist gangs.

His parole is ‘super intensive’, meaning
he will be closely monitored, because he has made it clear he will be getting
straight back into anti-fascist action once outside.

AN INTERNATIONAL week of action from 8th
- 14th November has been called in support of anarchist prisoner Eduardo Garcia
Macias. On November 8th it will be a year since the state started trying to
frame him for sending letter bombs. In all this time he’s been rotting in prison
and no evidence has been produced!

People are asked to show solidarity
during this week. There are many ways to do this:

• Write demanding that the frame-up
is halted to:

Ma Teresa Palacios,

Juzgado de Instrucion No3,

Audencia Nacional,

C/ Garcia Gutierrez No1,

28994 Madrid, Spain.

• On Saturday 10th take to the
streets and demonstrate in support of Eduardo.

Dominik Sawicki, an anarcho-syndycalist
from Szczecin in Poland, has been accused of "incitement to criminal
activity" after he distributed the paper "shipyard worker" to
work mates.

His trial is going to take place soon.
One of the accusations given by shipyard management against Dominik is that
since he started working there (in 1996), efficiency of workers has decreased,
when at the same time exploitation of materials increased. It is possible that
they will try to charge him with the costs of that as he propagated strikes and
sabotage as a means of fighting for the rights of workers.

Send protests to:

Sad Rejonowy,

VI Wydzial karny,

ul. Kaszubska 42,

70 - 952 Szczecin,

(nr. 500 1893/a),

Poland.

All protest letters are VERY important!
More info from Anarchist Black Cross Bialystok, Email: soja2@poczta.onet.pl

Anarchist prisoner moved

On 5th of October Mark Barnsley was
moved yet again. His new address is: